South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-05-06
CHRTSTIE'S NEW DRESS

Pretty Christie Burgess was the
daughter of the widow with whom 7
boarded. / was a confidential friend OF
both mother and daughter and knew
that, like myself, they had known bet
ter days. Somewhere in California
there was an Uncle Charles, Mrs. Bur
gess's brother, who would keep them.
they were sure, had he known their cir.
cumstances, but whose address thcv
could not tell. and who knew nothinp Of
their having left their former handsome
home.
Some OF Mrs. Burgess's former friends
had visited her and ole of them. Mrs
Wharton had sent Christie an invitation
to party at her house As soon as il,
was positively decided that she could not
go, because q new evening dress could
not be thought of, resolved upon the
awful extravaganza of presenting the
pretty girl with dress.
1t was worth it all to see Christie
when l called her to my room on the
afternoon of the cventful day and in
troduced her to the fiery spread out
upon my bed.
I'll have some jewels here, Christie, /
am going to lend you for this evening"
said !.
ooh, how pretty and how odd" she
cried. "Were they made to order, Miss
janet"
''Yes! They were gift to me seven
years ago, when 1 was your age,
Christie"
She looked at me wistfully when VIC
were alone, her soft-brown eyes ales
tioning my face; but she asked no
questions and went down to her mother
softly and thoughtfully.
Seven years before that night 1 had
been left an orphan, hopeless and heart
broken.
l had no mother to share the grief, no
sister or brother to tighten it. was all
alone. was not a strong min dcd girl
to face the trouble, AMI so / shut myself
up alone until the funeral, refusing to
see even Charlie. Then / ran away Mt
night. had one friend in Cleveland to
whom dared confilc all, and / went 20
her. l wrote to Charlie and told him |
should never ask him to fu fill his VOWS
to me and babe him farewell
For days after arrived ut Cleveland J
was utterly prostrated; but my friend
was kind, rs knew she would be. and
when | was able to think aided me in nil
my plans. had brought nothing from
homo but the one mourning suit l had
worn to the funcril and Charities car
bunclcs.
Mrs. Munroe had been an oil friend
of my mothers, and hal Wis II, more
than once, always urging IN. to return
the visits, but, unable to win my fathers
consent to part with me for so long n
journey, for was a three days' railway
ride from my old home. As soon ns ]
was able to un1crtak, teaching. Mrs.
Munroc cxcrtel herself to procure me
scholars, and / soon In class that
paid me an income sufficient for nv
modest wants.
For six years had home in nv
friends house, she alone knowing that
Miss Jane Gray was the missing Ella
Thornc advertised by her relatives, more
to save Their own reputation than from
any interest in her fate. | made. no
doubt, a nine days wonder in A.
and then my uncles, au1ts and cousins
probably forgot my existence. Charlie.
perhaps, was one Of those seeking me.
but I was resolved never TO share nv
fortunes with his.
When the death of my friend and
bencfactress was added TO my list Of
sorrows, was known enough in Glove
land to retain my scholars, and found n
new homo with Mrs. Burgess.
was still sitting with locked door.
brooding over the past, and unconscious
that Christie had been gone three hours
when Mrs. Burgess came to my room.
demanding admittance in an excited
voice. I opened the door at once.
"Oh, Miss janet Miss J,n.r' she
cried, Charles has comet Charles ha.
comet and he wants to sec your
"Wants to sec mc2'
ooh, yesl It's the straugost thing NJ
together! lie has been here more than
an hour; he met Christie at tho party
and, only think, he has been home over
three months, part Of the time in A
and part here, trying all the time 10 End
US, so it was no wonder Chr.stic's nam
struck him at once q. the party n.
taxed TO her little willie and then
came to me. But am talking on, aud